Stars send Michael Ryder to Habs for Erik Cole

COLUMBUS, Ohio—In a swap of veteran forwards, the Dallas Stars dealt right wing Michael Ryder and a third-round draft pick to the Montreal Canadiens for right wing Erik Cole on Tuesday night.

The teams confirmed the trade Tuesday night moments before the Stars played at Columbus.

Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan welcomed the addition of Cole but also said the team would miss Ryder.

"I know (Cole) has got a lot of experience," Gulutzan said. "He's won. He's a direct, big, fast-moving skater. I talked to (captain) Brenden (Morrow) a little bit and he said (Cole) is a guy you don't' like to play against."

The guy who swung the deal felt the same way.

"Erik Cole is a top-six power forward who skates well, adds size, and is under contract for the next two years," Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said. "We thank Michael Ryder for his contributions and look forward to what Erik will bring to our group."

The 34-year-old Cole had three goals and three assists in 19 games for the Canadiens. He won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and has 222 goals and 235 assists in 721 career games.

Less than 24 hours before the trade was announced, Ryder had a career-high three assists in a 5-4 overtime loss at Nashville.

"Ryds will be a missed guy here," Gulutzan said. "He's a good guy and a good player, well-liked by his teammates.

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Then he added, "But at the end of the day, we got a good player in return."

Ryder, 32, had six goals and eight assists in 19 games this season for the Stars. He will be returning to the organization that drafted him in the eighth round (216th overall) of the 1998 draft. He spent the last two years with the Stars and the three before that with Boston.

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